Biography

Janel Bragg grew up in Florida, Washington State and Alaska, where her parents modeled and encouraged creativity. Studying English and Studio Art throughout her college experience, Janel continues to focus on composition, color theory, figure drawing, and art history in her own art practice. Using primarily watercolor and casein paint, Bragg’s process involves working quickly and spontaneously from her own photography and imagination–adding life and movement to her paintings. She says that fourteen years of experimentation on her own has taught her the most, and that the encouragement of a mentor–who has heartened her since her father died–has given her the motivation to produce many paintings. Her work has been shown in galleries in Washington State, New York and Pennsylvania, including being juried into the 76th Annual Open International Exhibition of the Northwest Watercolor Society. She is currently working for two art publishers, Image Conscious and Art in Motion, both in San Francisco.


Comments from people about my art:

"A very different and exciting use of watercolor." Facebook fan

"and what I love about your art, and this is from my heart...it's honest..natural...special...keep going. :) Facebook fan

"Please keep in touch as most of the artists I collect are dead :)" CEO and owner of company in New York City who has bought 7 of my paintings. He also collects Alexander Calder, Milton Avery, Modigliani, and many others. He has been a business mentor to me after my father died.

"By the way, your paintings are very powerful and delicate at the same time. I think they tell a lot about your personality. I love your art. Brava!" Facebook fan

"Your art talks back. You are living in paint." Childhood classmate who was in art classes with me in middle school and high school.

"Janel, you know how to get to the heart of a scene." Diane Millsap, New Orleans artist

"Your paintings are confident, tender, clear, ambiguous, great." Woman who signed my guestbook at my first show at The Lincoln Theatre.

Influences

The German Expressionists, Leonardo Davinci, Arthur Wesley Dow, My parents, Mr. Dore at Anacortes Middle School, Mr. James at Anacortes High School, Jan Weiss my creative director at Image Conscious

The artist at work